Amazon Devices and Services department lays off about 250 employees

Amazon (AMZN.US) cut about 250 jobs in its Devices and Services division on Wednesday. In the previous weeks, the company had successively launched several new products, including new Kindle e-readers and tablets. An Amazon spokesperson stated: “We made the difficult decision to eliminate a small number of roles.” No further details were provided. According to a source familiar with the matter, the layoffs involve no more than 250 positions, mainly concentrated in software development. The spokesperson said the layoffs would help the company “improve operational efficiency and better align with the product roadmap.” Earlier this month, Amazon already cut about 1,000 jobs in its core retail division. The company will release its third-quarter financial results after the U.S. market closes on Thursday.